Projectile kite



Oct. 18, 1966 J. MlNDlOLA 3,279,726

PROJECTILE KITE} Filed Jan. 21, 1966 l N \I E NT'O a JoH/v M/Np/OLA /24- ATTO ENEY$ United States Patent 3,279,726 PROJECTILE KITE John Mindiola, 1113 The Strand, Waukesha, Wis. Filed Jan. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 522,101 10 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates to a projectile kite.

More specifically, my invention consists of a kite folding mechanism which operates in such a way as to permit the kite to be thrown into the air with considerable force, where it will open and operate as a conventional kite. My invention also includes a species of launcher for the kite, which, however, is merely exemplary of many different kinds of launchers applicable to this use, including explosive or gas-propelled catapults as well as spring loaded devices.

My kite consists of a central member, preferably c-onvex to the rear of the kite, and having an annular series of pivots and an annular series of catches for the ribs. The ribs are so mounted on the pivots as to be free to pivot forwardly toward the kite string, but are restrained from pivoting backwardly, away from the kite string, any farther than the operating position by a stop which is part of the central member. The rim of the dish is provided with pairs of catches for each rib, which may take the form of flexible mushroom shaped members which are deflected by the rib in opening, but which then return to erect position with their rear surfaces retaining the ribs in open position until manually released. A separate string extends from the tip of each rib over the convex surface at the rear of the dish and through a central opening to the front of the kite, where the separate strings meet the main string, thus applying a rearwardly and inwardly directed bowing tension to the ribs. If desired, certain ribs may be constructed to bow more than others and their strings may be adjusted in length or elastic tension accordingly.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the kite of my invention with a portion broken away.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the central member, omitting the cover and with the ribs broken away.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through my kite disposed on my launcher ready for use.

As shown in the drawings, my kite consists of a central element which is generally dish or ring shaped. It is provided with an outer rim 11 on which are disposed pairs of mushroom shaped catches 12 comprising heads 13 of rounded or beveled shape to assist ribs 20 in entering between the catches. Head 13 has a fiat under surface 14 to retain a rib once it has passed head 13, and stem 15 is flexible and elastic. It will be seen that catches 12 may take a variety of forms and still function effectively, and may be integral with rim 11 or attached thereto. They should preferably be spaced a substantial distance from the inner end of each rib for best mechanical advantage.

The inner end 21 of each rib 20 is secured at a pivot 22 to the central platform 17 of central member 10. Platform 17 thus serves as a stop to prevent pivoting of ends 21 of ribs 20 beyond the plane of the platform.

Strings extend from the outer end 24 of each rib 20 through hole 31 in central stem 18 to a connector 32 in front of the kite. Kite spring 33 is secured to the connector, and if a bridle 34 is desired, connector 32 serves as its attachment to the kite string "33. -If a bridle 34 is used, it should be slightly elastic so that it may vary in length, should extend from connector 32 to the ends 24 of as many ribs as necessary, and should be slack when ribs 20 are folded, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

Central member 10 has a rear surface 16 which is convex around hole 31 and spaced substantially rearwardly from the plane of :pivots 22 and rib ends 21 by stem 18. The convexity of surface 16 is such as to avoid chafing of strings 30, while the rearward spacing of the center of the surface 16 from rib ends 21 causes strings 30 to exert a rearward and inward force on rib ends 24 at all times while strings 30 are taut. Thus with wind pressure exerted on the front web 40 of my kite, the strings 30 will increasingly bow ribs 20 to aid in stabilizing the kite. If desired, the side ribs 200, or any of the ribs, may be thinner, or may have a pre-bent configuration, to assist in maintaining the correct surface configuration for stability.

The front surface of the kite is covered with a web 40 of any desired material such as paper, plastic, fabric, or the like, and having re-inforced margin 41 around its perimeter and secured to rib ends 24 in any conventional manner. A second inner re-inforced margin 42 is provided surrounding hole 31, the opening thus provided in web 40 being large enough to permit engagement of the head 51 of launcher 50 directly with platform 17 of central member 10.

Head 51 of launcher 50 is preferably provided with a pair of pins 52 or other means to hold central member 10 laterally but not axially. A spring 53 provides energy to catapult the kite into the air when trigger catch 54- is released by pulling launch cable 55 which passes over pulley 56 to extend along the ground. A reel '57 or similar device may be used to hold the string and pay it out during launching. A spinning reel or other device having the spindle aligned with the axis of launcher 50 is preferred 'to avoid resistance during launching.

When my kite has risen as far as possible (or as far as desired) the operator applies tension to string 33. Due to the curvature and diameter of surface 16, strings 30 apply rearward tension to tips 24 of ribs 20, opening the kite and snapping ribs 20 behind surfaces 14 of catches 12. This action is assisted by the pressure of the wind on web 40.

My invention is applicable to other kite forms, such as the diamond kite. A tail may be used on the kite if desired.

I claim:

1. A foldable kite comprising a web, a central member pivotally supporting a plurality of ribs, st-op means on the central member limiting rearward movement of said ribs, a string extending forwardly from said central member, and means adapted to pivot said ribs toward said stop mean-s while said kite is in the air.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said central member is provided with rib-retaining means to hold said ribs against said step means when said r-ibs engage said rib-retaining means.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said rib-retaining means comprise a plurality of mushroom-shaped flexible stemmed members each adapted to receive a rib alongside said stem and having a head with a rear surface adapted to overlie and retain said rib.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said mushroomshaped members are in pairs spaced to receive a rib between the members of each said pair.

5. The device of claim 1 in which said means adapted to pivot said ribs includes a rearwardly convex surface on said central member provided with a central axial orifice, and a separate string from the free end of each said rib extending over said surface and through said orifice to connect with said first mentioned string ahead of said web.

6. The device of claim 5 in which said surface extends laterally substantially beyond the \pivotal attachment of said ribs to said central member and is provided with a rim adapted to engage sai-d ribs in their rearrnost pivotal position.

7. The device of claim 6 in which said rim is provided with means to secure said ribs against said rim.

'8. The device of claim 1 including catapult means engageable with said central member and adapted to be inserted centrally between said ribs in their pivota-lly fiorward position, said catapult being further provided with string retaining means having an axis about which said string is carried, said axis being aligned with the direction in which said catapult acts.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the catapult means comprise a base, a tube, a spring loaded plunger in said tube engageable axially with said central member, and trigger means adapted to :hold said plunger securely and release it when desired.

10. A foldable kite comprising a web, a central member pivotally supporting a plurality of ribs, stop means on the central member limiting rearward movement of said ribs, a string extending @orwardly from said central member, and means adapted to pivot said ribs toward said stop means while said kite is in the air, said central member being provided with rib-retaining means to hold said ribs against said stop means when said ribs engage said nib-retaining means, and rib-retaining means comprising a plurality of mushroom-shaped flexible stemmed members each adapted to receive a rib alongside said stem and having a head with a rear surface adapted to overlie and retain said rib, said mushroom-shaped members being in pairs spaced to receive a rib between the members of each said pair, said means adapted to pivot said ribs including a rearwardly convex surface on said central member provided with a central axial orifice, and a separate string from the free end of each said rib extending over said surface and through said orifice to connect with said first mentioned string ahead of said Web, said surface extending ilaterally substantially beyond the pivotal attachment of said ribs to said central member and being provided with a rim adapted to engage said ribs in their rearmost pivot-a1 position.

No references cited.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

A. E. CORRIGAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLDABLE KITE COMPRISING A WEB, A CENTRAL MEMBER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF RIBS, STOP MEANS ON THE CENTRAL MEMBER LIMITING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID RIBS, A STRING EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL MEMBER, AND MEANS ADAPTED TO PIVOT SAID RIBS TOWARD SAID STOP MEANS WHILE SAID KITE IS IN THE AIR. 